Method and apparatus for controlled data sharing for vendor loyalty program execution

Abstract

An approach is provided for of enabling users to control the sharing of user profile information with respect to vendors based on user participation in, or value derived from, one or more vendor loyalty programs. A cross vendor management platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of user profile information to identify loyalty program information associated with at least one user. The user profile information is determined from a protected storage space comprising one or more information spaces configured, at least in part, to limit a distribution of at least part of the user profile information, change a rule of a distribution of the user profile information, or a combination thereof beyond one or more logical boundaries within the one or more information spaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising facilitating a processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal based, at least in part, on the following:
 a processing of user profile information to identify loyalty program information associated with at least one user,   wherein the user profile information is determined from a protected storage space comprising one or more information spaces configured, at least in part, to limit a distribution of at least part of the user profile information, change a rule of a distribution of the user profile information, or a combination thereof beyond one or more logical boundaries within the one or more information spaces.   
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
 at least one functional flow associated with the one or more information spaces, the at least one functional flow for collecting at least a portion of the user profile information.   
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one functional flow is associated with a means of collection of the user profile information associated with the one or more information spaces, a level of access to the user profile information associated with the one or more information spaces, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 3 , wherein the means of collection includes communication logging, sensor logging, data entry of the user profile information, data extraction of the user profile information, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one functional flow comprises one or more computation closures. 
     
     
         6 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
 a processing of the loyalty program information to determine one or more vendors, one or more balances of loyalty points, one or more offers, one or more incentives, or a combination thereof associated with the at least one user; and   at least one determination of one or more exchange rates for one or more balances of loyalty points, the one or more offers, the one or more incentives, or a combination thereof among the one or more vendors.   
     
     
         7 . A method of  claim 6 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
 a presentation of the one or more exchange rates for one or more balances of loyalty points, the one or more offers, the one or more incentives, or a combination thereof by at least one node associated with the one or more information spaces in association with the at least one user; and   an input for specifying a user interest in the one or more offers, the one or more incentives, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the one or more exchange rates for the one or more balances of loyalty points as presented.   
     
     
         8 . A method of  claim 7 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
 a processing of one or more computations based on the input to cause, at least in part, a (1) redemption of the one or more loyalty points, the one or more offers, the one or more incentives, or a combination thereof, a (2) comparison of the one or more offers, the one or more incentives, the one or more vendors, or a combination thereof, a (3) purchase of one or more products, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 8 , wherein the processing is caused to be performed by the at least one node. 
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the loyalty program information includes data for indicating a quantity of product purchases, advertisement views, inquiry responses, focus group participations, incentives used, offers used, loyalty points used, or a combination thereof, in association with the at least one user. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,   the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,
 process and/or facilitate a processing of user profile information to identify loyalty program information associated with at least one user, 
 wherein the user profile information is determined from a protected storage space comprising one or more information spaces configured, at least in part, to limit a distribution of at least part of the user profile information, change a rule of a distribution of the user profile information, or a combination thereof beyond one or more logical boundaries within the one or more information spaces. 
   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determine at least one functional flow associated with the one or more information spaces, the at least one functional flow for collecting at least a portion of the user profile information.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one functional flow is associated with a means of collection of the user profile information associated with the one or more information spaces, a level of access to the user profile information associated with the one or more information spaces, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the means of collection includes communication logging, sensor logging, data entry of the user profile information, data extraction of the user profile information, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one functional flow comprises one or more computation closures. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 process and/or facilitate a processing of the loyalty program information to determine one or more vendors, one or more balances of loyalty points, one or more offers, one or more incentives, or a combination thereof associated with the at least one user; and   determine one or more exchange rates for one or more balances of loyalty points, the one or more offers, the one or more incentives, or a combination thereof among the one or more vendors.   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 cause, at least in part, presenting of the one or more exchange rates for one or more balances of loyalty points, the one or more offers, the one or more incentives, or a combination thereof by at least one node associated with the one or more information spaces in association with the at least one user; and   receive an input for specifying a user interest in the one or more offers, the one or more incentives, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the one or more exchange rates for the one or more balances of loyalty points as presented.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 process and/or facilitate a processing of one or more computations based on the input to cause, at least in part, a (1) redemption of the one or more loyalty points, the one or more offers, the one or more incentives, or a combination thereof, a (2) comparison of the one or more offers, the one or more incentives, the one or more vendors, or a combination thereof, a (3) purchase of one or more products, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         19 . An apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the processing is caused to be performed by the at least one node. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the loyalty program information includes data for indicating a quantity of product purchases, advertisement views, inquiry responses, focus group participations, incentives used, offers used, loyalty points used, or a combination thereof, in association with the at least one user.